Contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella

ABSTRACT

A contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella includes an outer tube and an intermediate tube telescopically fit to each other. The intermediate tube has an upper end to which an outer tube plug is mounted. The center post receives therein two sections of runner cord. The two sections of runner cord each have an end fixed to the outer tube plug and an opposite end extending around a runner cord pulley mounted to an upper end of the center post and fixed to a runner at a first runner-cord fixed position. The present invention applies two sections of runner cord to simultaneously operate so that in withdrawing the runner, two identical pulling forces are applied to the runner to enable smooth withdrawal of the runner. The present invention reduces the number of pulleys used, simplifies the structure, and improves the liability of the umbrella and extends lifespan.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a structure of an umbrella, and more particular to a contraction structure of a center post of a self-opening umbrella.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Umbrellas are common daily living articles and every family has some umbrellas. With the upgrading of daily living standard, general consumers are pursuing umbrellas with increased demands, versatile functions, and easy use. The modern technology has already brought in umbrellas with self-opening/closing functions. The self-opening/closing umbrellas currently available in the market possess only the function of expanding and collapsing the umbrella fabric. Umbrellas with such a structure have already brought the general consumers with much improved convenience of use. However, a user must contract or shorten the center post of the umbrella by hands, after the umbrella fabric has been collapsed and this is still troublesome. To overcome such a problem, the present applicant has filed a Chinese Utility Model application No. 201120128521.6, wherein an outer tube pull cord is used in combination with a pulley to provide a runner extension/contraction structure, where, at the same time of contracting the center post, drives the runner to cause the umbrella fabric to collapse, thereby making closing of umbrella simple and convenient. However, it uses a single cord to contract the runner and the reliability is poor. Further, it uses two pulleys to receive the cord wound thereon and this structure is complicated. In addition, the end of the runner cord that is connected to the runner is easily shifted in contraction, so as to affect the smooth operation of contraction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the drawback of the conventional self-opening umbrella that a runner cord of a center post contraction structure is of a complicated structure discussed above, the present invention provides a novel center post contraction structure of self-opening umbrella, which comprises two pull cords to simultaneously drive a runner for achieving the purpose of contraction of the runner.

The technical solution that the present invention adopts to solve the technical problems is a contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella and the contraction structure of the center post comprises an outer tube and an intermediate tube telescopically fit to each other. The intermediate tube has an upper end to which an outer tube plug is mounted. The center post receives therein two sections of runner cord. The two sections of runner cord each have an end fixed to the outer tube plug and an opposite end extending around a runner cord pulley mounted to an upper end of the center post and fixed to a runner at a first runner-cord fixed position.

The technical solution that the present invention adopts to solve the technical problems further comprises the following:

The outer tube plug has second runner-cord fixed positions and the two sections of runner cord are respectively connected to the second runner-cord fixed positions.

Alternatively, the outer tube plug comprises a direction-change bar fixed thereto and the two sections of runner cord are jointed to each other at the direction-change bar.

The efficacy of the present invention is that the present invention applies two sections of runner cord to simultaneously operate so that in withdrawing the runner, two identical pulling forces are simultaneously applied to the runner to enable smooth operation of withdrawal of the runner. The present invention reduces the number of pulleys used, simplifies the structure, and at the same time improves the liability of the umbrella and extends lifespan.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention in an expanded condition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the circled portion A of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the circled portion B of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention in a collapsed condition.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention in an expanded condition.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the circled portion C of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the circled portion D of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the second embodiment of the present invention in a collapsed condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Embodiment 1

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the instant embodiment generally comprises a center post, a handle 8, ribs 6, an umbrella fabric (not shown), a top cap 4, and a runner 5. The handle 8 is fixedly mounted to a lower end of the center post. The top cap 4 is fixedly mounted to an upper end of the center post. The runner 5 is movably fit over the center post. The ribs 6 are coupled to the top cap 4 and the runner 5. The umbrella fabric is attached to the ribs 6. In the instant embodiment, the collapsing springs 7 are mounted to the ribs 6. In the instant embodiment, the essential structure of the umbrella is similar to the known umbrellas in that the handle 8 comprises a collapsing button 9 mounted thereto for opening and closing the umbrella. The handle 8 is provided, in the interior thereof, with a push block 22 at a location corresponding to the collapsing button 9. The handle 8 also comprises a spring plate 21 mounted therein for selectively retaining the center post. The push block 22 and the spring plate 21 are substantially identical to what are adopted in the known umbrellas.

In the instant embodiment, the center post comprises an outer tube 1, an intermediate tube 2, and an inner tube 3, of which the inner tube 2 can be composed of one or two or multiple segments respectively corresponding to a two-fold or three-fold or multiple-fold configuration of umbrella. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube 1, the intermediate tube 2, and the inner tube 3 are sequentially fit to each other. The inner tube 3 is fixedly mounted to the handle 8 and the top cap 4 is fixedly mounted to the outer tube 1. In the instant embodiment, the center post comprises a bullet 10 (which is referred to as “bullet” because it has an outer configuration similar to a “gun bullet”) arranged therein. The center post also comprises an outer tube cord 12 received therein for contracting the outer tube 1. In the instant embodiment, an outer tube plug 13 is mounted to the upper end of the intermediate tube 2. The outer tube plug 13 comprises an outer tube cord pulley 14 mounted thereto. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube cord 12 has an end fixed to the bullet 10 at a first tube-cord end fixed position 17. The outer tube cord 12 has an opposite end extending around the outer tube cord pulley 14 to connect to the outer tube 1 at a second tube-cord end fixed position 18. In the instant embodiment, the second tube-cord end fixed position 18 is set at a lower end of the outer tube 1. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube plug 13 is extended downward to form a protection sleeve 23. A runner cord 11 and the outer tube cord 12 are arranged inside the protection sleeve 23. The center post comprises an internal spring 15 arranged therein. The internal spring 15 is fit over and encompasses the protection sleeve 23 and has an end engaging the outer tube plug 13 and an opposite end engaging a lower end of the inner tube 3. In the instant embodiment, the runner cord 11 and the outer tube cord 12 are separate from and independent of each other. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube 1 and the intermediate tube 2 form a predetermined gap therebetween to allow the outer tube cord 12 to move, substantially without resistance, between the outer tube 1 and the intermediate tube 2. In the instant embodiment, the runner cord 11 is composed of two sections received inside the outer tube 1. The two sections of the runner cord 11 are arranged symmetric with respect to each other. For each section of the runner cord, an end of the runner cord 11 extends around a runner cord pulley 24 mounted to the top cap 4 to connect to the runner 5 at a first runner-cord fixed point 25 and an opposite end of the runner cord 11 is connected to the outer tube plug 13. In the instant embodiment, the outer tube plug 13 is provided with a second runner-cord fixed point 19 for each section of the runner cord. The end of the runner cord 11 is attached to the second runner-cord fixed point 19, so that the runner cord 11 can be pulled to change the relative position between the top cap 4 and the runner 5 to effect collapsing the umbrella fabric.

To put the instant embodiment into use, when the umbrella is in a closed condition, where the outer tube 1 is retained by the spring plate 21, pressing down the collapsing button 9 allows the collapsing button 9 to push the outer tube 1 in such a way to separate from the spring plate 21. Under this condition, the internal spring 15 drives upward the outer tube plug 13 to expand the intermediate tube 2 and the inner tube 3. At the same time, the outer tube cord 12 pulls the outer tube 1 to have the intermediate tube 2 expanded with respect thereto. Further, the runner cord 11 pulls the runner 5 to shorten the distance thereof with respect to the top cap 4, thereby expanding the ribs 6 to complete the process of opening the umbrella. To close the umbrella, the collapsing button 9 is pressed down again, the collapsing button 9 pushes away the bullet 10 to disengage from the lower end of the inner tube 3 and retract into the center post. The ribs 6 are collapsed under the action of the collapsing springs 7 to achieve collapsing of the umbrella fabric. Further, the outer tube 1 loses the pulling force from the outer tube cord 12 thereby contracting the outer tube 1 and the intermediate tube 2 with respect to each other. Finally, the user manually contracts the remaining portions of the center post that has not been contracted and the protection sleeve 23 drives the bullet 10 to get into and retain in the handle 8.

Embodiment 2

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the instant embodiment is generally of the same essential structure as the first embodiment and the difference resides in that in the instant embodiment, the two sections of the runner cord 11 are jointed together as a single cord. A direction-change bar 26 is arranged above the outer tube plug 13 and the two sections of the runner cord 11 are jointed together and extend around the direction-change bar 26. In other words, the direction-change bar 26 imaginarily divides the cord into two sections.

The present invention applies two sections of runner cord to simultaneously operate so that in withdrawing the runner, two identical pulling forces are simultaneously applied to the runner to enable smooth operation of withdrawal of the runner. The present invention reduces the number of pulleys used, simplifies the structure, and at the same time improves the liability of the umbrella and extends lifespan.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. contraction structure of a center post of a self-opening umbrella, characterized in that the contraction structure of the center post comprises: an outer tube (1) and an intermediate tube (2) telescopically fit to each other, and an inner tube (3) telescopically received in the intermediate tube (2), the intermediate tube (2) having an upper end to which an outer tube plug (13) is mounted, the center post receiving therein two sections of runner cord (11), the two sections of runner cord (11) each having an end fixed to the outer tube plug (13) and an opposite end extending around a runner cord pulley (24) mounted to an upper end of the center post and fixed to a runner (5) at a first runner-cord fixed position (25), an internal spring (15) being received in the center post and having an end supported on the outer tube plug (13) and an opposite end supported on a lower end of the inner tube (3) so that the internal spring (15) elastically biases the outer tube plug (13) away from the lower end of the inner tube (3) in such a way that the biasing force of the internal spring (15) holds the outer tube (1) in an expanded position with respect to the intermediate tube (2) by stretching an outer tube cord (12) having ends respectively fixed to the outer tube (1) and a bullet (10) releasably retained at the lower end of the inner tub (3).
 2. The contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer tube plug (13) has second runner-cord fixed positions (19) and the two sections of runner cord (11) are respectively connected to the second runner-cord fixed positions (19).
 3. The contraction structure of center post of self-opening umbrella according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer tube plug (13) comprises a direction-change bar (26) fixed thereto, the two sections of runner cord (11) being jointed to each other at the direction-change bar (26). 